Container loading and unloading system

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for loading shipping containers onto and off of a truck or trailer bed. The apparatus includes rotatably mounted drive chains disposed in a laterally-spaced relationship adjacent the lateral edges of the bed. The drive chains are driven by a hydraulic motor on the bed. Lift spikes are rigidly mounted the drive chains and extend perpendicularly therefrom for engaging and pulling a container onto the bed. Lift wedges are pivotably mounted to the rear edge of the bed and are rotatably driven by hydraulic rams for lifting the front edge of a container onto the lift spikes. Container locking assemblies are located adjacent the four corners of the bed and each include a locking pin positioned above the bed coupled to a pneumatic ram mounted to an underside of the bed. The hydraulic rams move the locking pins laterally, between a locked position and an unlocked position.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

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REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of freighttransport and more particularly to an apparatus and method for loadingand unloading ISO shipping containers onto and off of truck and trailerbeds.

International Standards Organization (ISO) sea shipping containers areused to store and transport freight all over the world. At shippingports, specialized cranes are used to load and unload ISO containersonto and off of heavy semi-trucks and freight trains. Such cranes aretypically very large and very expensive and are therefore generally notavailable to end users of ISO containers, such as individuals andcompanies who handle relatively small quantities of containers comparedto shipping ports.

Traditionally, end users of ISO containers have used conventional truckcranes or winch-bed trucks and trailers to load and unload ISOcontainers for transport and storage. However, both of these optionshave significant disadvantages associated with them. For example, truckcranes are expensive, they consume a great deal of space on a truck bed,they can only be used on substantially flat ground, and they requireskilled operators to use them. Moreover, loading and unloading ISOcontainers using truck cranes can be very dangerous, as such operationsrequire ISO containers, which typically weigh several tons, to be liftedhigh into the air. This creates a drop/crush hazard for individuals inthe vicinity of a container that is being loaded or unloaded. Winch-bedtrucks and trailers are less expensive and are easier to use than truckcranes, but they require dragging a container onto a truck or trailerbed using cables and hooks. Such dragging can cause significant damageto both the container and to the surface along which the container isdragged. Moreover, loading and unloading containers using either truckcranes or winch-bed trucks and trailers is very time consuming andrequires an operator to manually fasten a container to, or unfasten acontainer from, a truck bed or trailer.

In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide means forloading and unloading ISO shipping containers that is relativelyinexpensive, fast, safe, easy to use, that does not require a skilledoperator, and that does not cause damage to containers or to surfacesupon which containers rest. It would further be advantageous to providesuch means that allows containers to be fastened and unfastened to andfrom truck and trailer beds quickly and automatically.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatusfor loading and unloading ISO shipping containers onto and off of thetilting bed of a truck or a trailer. The apparatus generally includes apair of drive chains, a pair of lift wedges, and four container lockingassemblies. The drive chains of the apparatus are disposed in alaterally-spaced relationship adjacent the lateral edges of the bed andare preferably driven by a hydraulic motor. Each drive chain isoperatively mounted to a pair of sprockets that are rotatably mounted toopposing longitudinal ends of the bed. Elongated lift spikes are rigidlymounted to each of the drive chains and extend outwardly therefrom forengaging and pulling an ISO shipping container onto the bed when thedrive chains are driven. The lift spikes are adapted to fit into thecorner holes of an ISO shipping container.

The lift wedges are substantially triangular members that are pivotablymounted to the rear edge of the bed in a laterally-spaced relationship.The lift wedges can be pivoted about a common lateral axis between a“stowed” position, wherein the lift wedges extend substantially upwardlyfrom the rear edge of the bed, and a “deployed” position, wherein thelift wedge extend substantially rearwardly from the rear edge of thebed. Hydraulic rams are mounted to the underside of the bed and engagethe lift wedges for driving the wedges between the stowed and deployedpositions. The lift wedges are thereby used to lift and pull the frontend of a shipping container onto the bed above the lift spikes.

A pair of buffer wheels is preferably mounted to the rear edge of thebed, inward of the lift wedges. When the bed is deployed duringoperation of the apparatus the buffer wheels engage the surface uponwhich the truck and container sit and prevent the rear edge of the bedfrom scraping and potentially damaging the surface.

The container locking assemblies are located adjacent the four cornersof the bed and each include a laterally inwardly-extending locking pinpositioned above the bed coupled to a hydraulic ram that is preferablymounted to an underside of the bed. The hydraulic rams move the lockingpins laterally between an inward, locked position and an outward,unlocked position, thereby engaging or disengaging the corner holes of acontainer that is loaded on the bed for locking or unlocking thecontainer to or from the bed.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each of theabove-described components of the invention is operatively connected toa master control, such as a microcontroller or a programmable logiccontroller, that is capable of automatically operating the components ina predetermined manner once initiated by a human operator. Thus, oncethe operator has properly positioned a truck in front of a containerthat is to be loaded, the operator can activate the master control unit,which will then automatically operate the bed, the lift wedges, thedrive chains, and the locking assemblies to load and secure thecontainer onto the bed without further input from the operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective detail view illustrating severalcomponents of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective detail view illustrating several componentsof the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1with the locking pin 76 in an unlocked position.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective detail view illustrating several componentsof the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1with the locking pin 76 in a locked position.

FIGS. 5 a-5 c are a series of side elevation views illustrating theoperation of the lift wedges of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6 a-6 c are a series of side elevation views illustrating theoperation of the lift spikes of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7 a-7 d are a series of side elevation views illustrating thedeployment of the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown inFIG. 1.

FIGS. 8 a-8 d are a series of side elevation views illustrating thepreferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 being usedto load and secure a shipping container on a truck bed.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operative interconnectionof several components of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 1.

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which isillustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted tofor the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the inventionbe limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understoodthat each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operatein a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an apparatus for loading and unloading ISO shippingcontainers onto and off of truck and trailer beds is indicated generallyat 10. The apparatus 10 generally includes a pair of drive chains 12 and14, a pair of lift wedges 16 and 18, and four container lockingassemblies 20, 22, 24, and 26. As will be appreciated by those ofordinary skill in the art, and as will become apparent from thedescription below, the components of the apparatus 10 can beincorporated into a conventional tilting truck bed 28, as shown in FIGS.7 a-7 d and 8 a-8 d, or into a conventional tilting trailer bed (notshown). The term “bed” is therefore defined herein to mean a truck bedor a trailer bed. It will also be appreciated that the apparatus can beused for loading conventional, 20 foot ISO shipping containers onto astandard, straight truck bed, or can be lengthened in a manner that willbe readily apparent for loading conventional, 40 foot ISO shippingcontainers onto a standard, 40 foot trailer bed.

For the sake of convenience and clarity, terms such as “top,” “bottom,”“inward,” “outward,” “length,” “width,” “lateral,” and “longitudinal”will be used herein to describe the relative size and orientation ofvarious components of the apparatus 10, all with respect to the geometryand orientation of the apparatus 10 and bed 28 as they appear in FIG. 1.This terminology will include the words specifically mentioned,derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Also for the sake ofclarity, the bed is shown separate from the truck in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the drive chains 12 and 14 of the apparatus 10 aredisposed in a laterally-spaced, longitudinally-extending relationshipadjacent the lateral edges of the bed 28. The drive chains 12 and 14 arepreferably spaced about 89 inches apart to match the on-center distancebetween the corner posts of an ISO shipping container. The drive chains12 and 14 are preferably each formed of looped sections of conventionalC2080 double pitch conveyor chain, although it is contemplated thatvarious other flexible members can be substituted for the preferredconveyor chains, including, but not limited to, various cables, tracks,ropes, and other types of chains.

Each drive chain is operatively mounted to a pair of 2080B11 ext pitchsprockets 30, 32, 34, and 36 that are rotatably mounted at opposinglongitudinal ends of the bed 28. It is contemplated that various othertypes of sprockets or pulleys can be substituted for the preferredsprockets 30-36, particularly if a different type of chain is used. Thedrive chains 12 and 14 and sprockets 30-36 are preferably recessedwithin longitudinally-elongated channels that are formed in the bed 28.The top surfaces of the drive chains 12 and 14 thereby sit flush ornearly flush with the top surface of the bed 28.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6 a-6 d, elongated lift spikes 38 and 40 arerigidly mounted to each of the drive chains 12 and 14 and extendsubstantially perpendicularly therefrom. The lift spikes 38 and 40 arepreferably formed of steel and are welded to the drive chains 12 and 14,although it is contemplated that other high-strength materials and meansof attachment can alternatively be employed. The lift spikes 38 and 40are about 3 inches long and preferably have a forward bend or curve toform a claw-like shape, but this is not critical. It is important thatthe lift spikes 38 and 40 are of a size and shape that fit into thecorner holes of an ISO shipping container in a manner that will bedescribed in detail below. It is also important that the lift spikes 38and 40 are mounted to their respective drive chains 12 and 14 in lateralalignment with one another and are therefore at the same longitudinalposition along the bed 28 at any given time.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional hydraulic motor 42 is rigidlymounted to the bed 28 and is coupled to a drive shaft 44 through aconventional gear assembly. The drive shaft 44 operatively engages theforward pair of sprockets 30 and 34 (i.e. the sprockets nearest thetruck cab) for driving the sprockets 30 and 34 and attached drive chains12 and 14 and lift spikes 38 and 40 during operation of the apparatus10. Particularly, the lift spikes 38 and 40 can be driven between an“unloaded” position at the rear of the bed 28 (shown in FIG. 6 a) and a“loaded” position adjacent the front of the bed 28 (the lift spikes 38and 40 are in the loaded position in FIG. 8 d but are not visible). Itis contemplated that the motor 42, the drive shaft 44, and the forwardpair of sprockets 30 and 34 can be mounted atop an air cushion oranother shock absorbing means, such as a block of rubber, for reducingvibration and mitigating the risk damage to the apparatus 10 duringoperation.

The hydraulic motor 42 is operatively coupled to a control mechanism(not shown) that is preferably located in the truck cab for allowing anoperator to control the operation of the motor while seated in the cab.Alternatively, it is contemplated that the control mechanism can belocated on the bed 28, integral with the motor 42, or on a remotecontrol wirelessly or otherwise connected to the motor 42. It is furthercontemplated that an electric motor or other suitable drive means can besubstituted for the hydraulic motor 42 without departing from thepresent invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the lift wedges 16 and 18 are preferablysubstantially triangular members having rounded front sides 46 and 48and substantially planar lips 50 and 52 extending from their rear edges.It is contemplated that the shape of the lift wedges 16 and 18 can bevaried somewhat without departing from the present invention. Forexample, the lift wedges 16 and 18 can alternatively have flat frontsides (i.e. perpendicular with the bottom surfaces of the wedges) andthe rear lips 50 and 52 can be omitted. The lift wedges 16 and 18 arepivotably mounted to the top, rear edge of the bed 28 in alaterally-spaced relationship, inward of the drive chains 12 and 14, bya pair of collinear pivot pins (not within view). The lift wedges 16 and18 are spaced about 80 inches apart to correspond to the on-centerdistance between the recessed lift points of an ISO shipping container.The lift wedges 16 and 18 can be independently pivoted about a commonlateral axis between a “stowed” position (shown in FIG. 5 c) and a“deployed” position (shown in FIG. 5 a). The significance of thesepositions will be described in greater detail below.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5 a-5 c, hydraulic rams 54 and 56 are mountedto the underside of the bed 28 in an upwardly-angled orientation witheach ram 54 and 56 laterally aligned with the front side 46 and 48 of acorresponding one of the lift wedges 16 and 18. Linear drive shafts 58and 60 that are preferably formed of steel tubing are coupled to the ramshafts 62 and 64 at one end and engage the front sides 46 and 48 of thelift wedges 16 and 18 at an opposite end. The linear drive shafts 58 and60 preferably extend through positioning cuffs 66 and 68 that arerigidly mounted to the underside of the bed 28 and the cuffs 66 and 68have interior dimensions that are slightly larger than the exteriordimensions of the linear drive shafts 58 and 60. The positioning cuffs66 and 68 thereby secure the vertical and lateral positions of thelinear drive shafts 58 and 60 while allowing the linear drive shafts 58and 60 to slide longitudinally through the cuffs 66 and 68.

When the ram shafts 62 and 64 are extended from their fully retractedpositions to their fully extended positions, the attached linear driveshafts 58 and 60 are shifted rearwardly, against the rounded, frontsides 46 and 48 of the lift wedges 16 and 18. The lift wedges 16 and 18are thereby forced to rotate upwardly, about their respective pivotpins, to their stowed positions as shown in FIG. 5 c. When the ramshafts 62 and 64 are retracted from their fully extended positions totheir fully retracted positions, the attached linear drive shafts 58 and60 are drawn forward, thereby allowing the lift wedges 16 and 18 torotate downwardly, about their respective pivot pins, to their deployedpositions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 a.

The hydraulic rams 54 and 56 are preferably operatively coupled to acontrol mechanism (not shown) that is located in the truck cab forallowing an operator to control the operation of the rams 54 and 56while seated in the cab. Alternatively, it is contemplated that thecontrol mechanism can be located on the bed 28 or on a remotecontroller. It is further contemplated that pneumatic rams, linearactuators, or other suitable drive means can be substituted for thehydraulic rams 54 and 56 without departing from the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a pair of buffer wheels 166 and 168 is rotatablymounted to the rear edge of the bed 28, inward of the lift wedges 16 and18. The buffer wheels 166 and 168 are formed of steel, although it iscontemplated that the buffer wheels 166 and 168 can be formed of anyother suitably durable material, including, but not limited to, variousother metals, hardened rubber or plastics, or various composites. Whenthe bed 28 is deployed during operation of the apparatus 10 (as will bedescribed below) the buffer wheels 166 and 168 engage the surface uponwhich the truck and container sit and prevent the rear edge of the bed28 from scraping and potentially damaging the surface. It iscontemplated that a greater or fewer number of buffer wheels 166 and 168can alternatively be employed, or that the buffer wheels 166 and 168 canbe entirely omitted.

Referring to FIG. 1, the container locking assemblies 20-26 are locatedadjacent the four corners of the bed 28. The locking assemblies 20-26are substantially identical and will therefore be described withreference to the locking assembly 20 only. It will be understood thatsuch description shall extend to each of the other locking assemblies22-26 with necessary consideration given to differences in theirrespective positions and orientations.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the locking assembly 20 includes a hydraulicram 70, a linear drive shaft 72, a coupling bracket 74, and a lockingpin 76. The hydraulic ram 70 is rigidly mounted to the underside of thebed 28 in a laterally extending orientation with the ram shaft directedoutwardly. The linear drive shaft 72 is an elongated member that ispreferably formed of steel tubing and is coupled to the ram shaft at oneend and extends laterally outwardly to the edge of the bed 28. Thelinear drive shaft 72 preferably extends through positioning cuffs 80and 82 that are rigidly mounted to the underside of the bed 28 and haveinterior dimensions that are slightly larger than the exteriordimensions of the linear drive shaft 72. The positioning cuffs 80 and 82thereby secure the vertical and longitudinal position of the lineardrive shaft 72 while allowing the linear drive shaft 72 to slidelaterally through the cuffs 80 and 82.

The coupling bracket 74 is an elongated member that is preferably formedof steel tubing and is rigidly mounted at one end to the outer end ofthe linear drive shaft 72, preferably by welds. The coupling bracket 74extends upward and outward from the linear drive shaft 72 to a secondend that is positioned outside of the drive chain 14 and above the topsurface of the bed 28. The locking pin 76 is a substantially cylindricalmember, preferably formed of steel, that is rigidly mounted at one endto the second end of the coupling bracket 74, preferably by welds, andextends laterally inwardly therefrom. The locking pin 76 preferablyextends through a tubular positioning cuff 84 that is mounted to asidewall 86 of the bed 28 and provides a passageway therethrough. Thepositioning cuff 84 has interior dimensions that are slightly largerthan the exterior dimensions of the locking pin 76. The positioning cuff84 thereby secures the vertical and longitudinal position of the lockingpin 76 while allowing the locking pin 76 to slide laterally through thecuff 84.

Configured in the manner described 28 above, the linear drive shaft 72,coupling bracket 74, and locking pin 76 form a unitary body that can beshifted laterally inwardly and outwardly through operation of thehydraulic ram 70. Thus, when the ram is in its fully extended position,the locking pin 76 is in a laterally-outermost “unlocked” position (asshown in FIG. 3), wherein the locking pin 76 does not protrude, orprotrudes insubstantially, inward from the sidewall 86 of the bed 28.Conversely, when the ram is in its fully retracted position, the lockingpin 76 is in a laterally-innermost “locked” position (as shown in FIG.4), wherein the locking pin 76 protrudes several inches inward from thesidewall 86 of the bed 28.

The hydraulic ram 70 is operatively coupled to a control mechanism (notshown) that is preferably located in the truck cab for allowing anoperator to control the operation of the locking assembly 20 whileseated in the cab. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the controlmechanism can be located on the bed 28 or on a remote controller. It isfurther contemplated that a pneumatic ram, linear actuator, or othersuitable drive means can be substituted for the hydraulic ram 70 withoutdeparting from the present invention.

While it is preferred that the linear drive shaft 72 and couplingbracket 74 be formed of steel tubing and that the locking pin 76 beformed of a steel cylinder, it is contemplated that these components canbe formed of any suitably shaped structures, including, but not limitedto, various different type of plates, pipes, tubes, bars, and bracketsformed of any suitably rigid and durable material, including, but notlimited to various different metals, plastics, and composites. It isfurther contemplated that the linear drive shaft 72, coupling bracket74, and locking pin 76 can be formed of a single, contiguous piece ofmaterial instead of separate pieces of material that are affixed to oneanother in the manner described above.

Referring to FIGS. 5 a-5 c, 6 a-6 c, 7 a-7 d and 8 a-8 d, several seriesof views depicting the typical operation of the apparatus 10 for loadingan ISO container 100 onto the bed 28 of a truck 102 are shown. Referringto FIG. 7 a, the truck 102 and bed 28 are shown in an initial positionand configuration immediately prior to the commencement of loading thecontainer 100. Particularly, the truck 102 has been backed up to aposition in front of the container 100; the bed 28 is in a horizontal,stowed position; the lift spikes 38 and 40 are in their unloadedpositions; the lift wedges 16 and 18 are in their deployed positions;and the locking pins 76 are in their locked positions.

Next, referring to FIG. 7 b, the loading operation has commenced, withthe locking pins 76 moved to their unlocked positions (i.e. throughextension of the hydraulic rams 70, as described above), and the truckbed 28 deployed in a conventional manner (i.e. tilted and lowered, suchas through the cooperative operation of a hydraulic lift and a chaindrive in the case of a straight truck or by sliding the wheels of thetrailer forward in the case of a trailer) until the buffer wheels 166and 168 (see FIG. 1) and the bottom surfaces of the lift wedges 16 and18 come to rest on the ground. Referring to FIGS. 5 a and 7 c, the truck102 is then backed up until the lift wedges 16 and 18 partially extendbelow the recessed, forward lift points of the container 100. Referringto FIGS. 5 b and 7 d, with the truck 102 in neutral gear, the liftwedges 16 and 18 are then rotated upwardly, approximately halfway towardtheir stowed positions, thereby lifting the front end of the container100 several inches off of the ground and simultaneously pulling thetruck 102 and the bed 28 several inches rearward. The lift wedges 16 and18 are then rotated back down to their deployed positions, therebybringing the front corners of the container 100 to rest on the frontedge of the bed 28, with each corner positioned atop one of the drivechains 12 and 14, as shown in FIG. 6 b.

Next, referring to FIG. 6 b, the hydraulic motor 42 is activated,thereby driving the drive chains 12 and 14 and rotating the lift spikes38 and 40 from their unloaded positions upwardly, into engagement withthe bottom-front corner holes of the container 100. The hydraulic motor42 then continues to drive the drive chains 12 and 14 and lift spikes 38and 40, thereby pulling the truck 102, which is still in neutral gear,toward the container 100 and wedging the bed 28 underneath the container100 while lifting the container 100 onto the bed 28 as in FIG. 6 c. Thehydraulic motor 42 is driven until the container 100 is entirely oralmost entirely resting on the bed 28, as shown in FIG. 8 a. Thehydraulic motor 42 is then disengaged and the bed 28 is tilted andretracted back to its stowed, horizontal position, as shown in FIGS. 8 band 8 c. The hydraulic motor 42 is then reengaged and the lift spikes 38and 40 are driven forward to their loaded positions, thereby pulling thecontainer 100 to its final, loaded position on the bed, as shown in FIG.8 d.

With the container 100 loaded onto the bed 28 in the manner describedabove, the locking pins 76 of the locking assemblies 20-26 arepositioned laterally in-line with the laterally outwardly-facing cornerholes 106, 108, 110, and 112 of the container 100. The locking pins 76are then laterally shifted to their locked positions, thereby bringingthe locking pins 76 into axial engagement with the corner holes 106-112of the container 100 and securing the container 100 to the bed 28 fortransport. Unloading the container 100 from the bed 28 is generallyeffectuated by performing the above-described loading steps in reverse.

Referring to FIG. 9, the majority of the above-described steps forloading and unloading a container are preferably performed automaticallyby an appropriately programmed master control unit 120, such as amicrocontroller or a programmable logic controller, that is operativelyconnected to the hydraulic motor 42 and the hydraulic rams 54, 56, and70. For example, after the operator has deployed the bed 28 and haspositioned the truck 102 with the lift wedges 16 and 18 extendingpartially under the lift points of the container 100, the operator canactivate an “auto-load” function by manipulating an operator interface,such as button or a switch, for the master control unit 120. The mastercontrol unit 120 then automatically operates the components of theapparatus 10 in accordance with the above-described loading sequencewithout requiring any further input from the operator and withoutrequiring the operator to be seated in the cab of the truck 102. An“auto-unload” function is effectuated in a similar manner. It iscontemplated that the operator interface for the master control unit 120can be located in the truck cab, on the bed 28, or at both locations.

When the apparatus 10 is not being used to load, unload, or secure acontainer in the manner described above, it is contemplated that a towbar can be mounted to the lift spikes 38 and 40 and used in aconventional manner to tow items on or behind the bed. The tow bar canbe a conventional, commercially available tow bar that fits, or ismodified to fit, the lift spikes 38 and 40 of the apparatus, or can be acustom built tow bar that is designed to accommodate the lift spikes 38and 40.

This detailed description in connection with the drawings is intendedprincipally as a description of the presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in whichthe present invention may be constructed or utilized. The descriptionsets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementingthe invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is tobe understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions andfeatures may be accomplished by different embodiments that are alsointended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the inventionand that various modifications may be adopted without departing from theinvention or scope of the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus mounted to a substantiallyupwardly-facing bed for loading and unloading a container onto and offof the bed, the container having a floor with first and second openingsthat face substantially downwardly when the container is in an operableorientation, the first and second openings formed in at least respectivefirst and second corners on a front of the container, the apparatuscomprising: a. a first flexible member movably mounted adjacent a firstlateral edge of the bed and a second flexible member movably mountedadjacent a second lateral edge of the bed substantially parallel to thefirst flexible member; b. a first lift spike extending from the firstflexible member and a second lift spike extending from the secondflexible member; c. a first drive mechanism operatively coupled to thefirst and second flexible members for driving the lift spikes between anunloaded position, wherein the first and second lift spikes are adjacenta rear of the bed, and a container-loaded position, wherein the firstand second lift spikes are located adjacent a front of the bed; d. atleast one lift wedge moveably mounted to a rear edge of the bed; and e.a second drive mechanism operatively coupled to said at least one liftwedge for raising said at least one lift wedge between a stowed positionand a deployed position in which said at least one lift wedge raises thefront of the container and the first and second lift spikes extendsubstantially upwardly from the bed into the first and second,substantially downwardly-facing, openings.
 2. The apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the first and second flexible memberscomprise first and second drive chains, and further comprising a. a pairof sprockets operatively coupled to the first and second drive chainsadjacent the front of the bed; and b. a drive shaft operatively coupledto the sprockets; wherein the first drive mechanism comprises a rotaryprime mover that is operatively coupled to the drive shaft.
 3. Theapparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the drive chains arespaced apart from each other a distance of about 89 inches.
 4. Theapparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one liftwedge comprises two lift wedges.
 5. The apparatus in accordance withclaim 4, wherein the lift wedges are spaced apart from each other adistance of about 80 inches.
 6. The apparatus in accordance with claim1, wherein the first drive mechanism is a hydraulic motor and the seconddrive mechanism comprises a hydraulic ram.
 7. The apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one buffer wheelextending from the rear edge of the bed.
 8. The apparatus in accordancewith claim 1, further comprising a master control unit operativelyconnected to the first drive mechanism, and the second drive mechanismfor automatically operating the first drive mechanism and the seconddrive mechanism in a predetermined manner.
 9. The apparatus inaccordance with claim 8, wherein the master control unit comprises amicrocontroller.
 10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, whereinthe master control unit comprises a programmable logic controller. 11.The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at leastone container locking mechanism extending from a side of the bed, saidat least one container locking mechanism comprising: a. a locking pinadapted to engage a corner hole of a container; and b. a third drivemechanism mounted to the bed and coupled to the locking pin for movingthe locking pin between an outward, unlocked position and an inward,locked position.
 12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11, whereinthe third drive mechanism comprises a hydraulic ram.
 13. The apparatusin accordance with claim 11, wherein said at least one container lockingmechanism comprises four container locking mechanisms and each containerlocking mechanism is located adjacent a corner of the bed.
 14. Theapparatus in accordance with claim 11, further comprising a mastercontrol unit operatively connected to the first drive mechanism, thesecond drive mechanism, and the third drive mechanism for automaticallyoperating the first drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism, and thethird drive mechanism in a predetermined manner.
 15. The apparatus inaccordance with claim 14, wherein the master control unit comprises amicrocontroller.
 16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14, whereinthe master control unit comprises a programmable logic controller. 17.An apparatus mounted to a substantially upwardly-facing bed for loadingand unloading a container onto and off of the bed, the container havinga floor with first and second openings that face substantiallydownwardly when the container is in an operable orientation, the firstand second openings formed in at least respective first and secondcorners on a front of the container, the apparatus comprising: a. afirst drive chain movably mounted adjacent a first lateral edge of thebed and a second drive chain movably mounted adjacent a second lateraledge of the bed substantially parallel to the first drive chain; b. afirst lift spike extending from the first drive chain and a second liftspike extending from the second drive chain; c. a first drive mechanismoperatively coupled to the drive chains for rotatably driving the drivechains and lift spikes between an unloaded position, wherein the liftspikes extend from a rear edge of the bed, and a loaded position,wherein the lift spikes are located adjacent a front of the bed; d. atleast one lift wedge pivotably mounted to a rear edge of the bed; e. asecond drive mechanism operatively coupled to said at least one liftwedge for rotating said at least one lift wedge about the rear edge ofthe bed between a stowed position and a deployed position in which saidat least one lift wedge raises the front of the container and the firstand second lift spikes extend substantially upwardly from the bed intothe first and second, substantially downwardly-facing, openings; and f.at least one container locking mechanism extending from a side of thebed, said at least one container locking mechanism comprising: i. alocking pin adapted to engage a substantially sidewardly-facing cornerhole of a container; and ii. a third drive mechanism mounted to the bedand coupled to the locking pin for moving the locking pin between anoutward, unlocked position and an inward, locked position.
 18. A methodfor loading a container onto a substantially upwardly-facing bed, thecontainer having a floor with first and second openings that facesubstantially downwardly when the container is in an operableorientation, the first and second openings formed in at least respectivefirst and second corners on a front of the container, the methodcomprising: a. disposing a rear edge of the bed adjacent a substantiallyupwardly-facing surface upon which the container sits in an operableorientation; b. disposing at least one lift wedge extending from therear edge of the bed under the front of the container; c. raising saidat least one lift wedge substantially upwardly, thereby lifting thefront end of the container above first and second driven lift spikesthat are movably mounted adjacent lateral rear edges of the bed; d.inserting the first and second driven lift spikes upwardly into therespective downwardly-facing first and second openings; and e. drivingthe lift spikes simultaneously with the container toward the front ofthe bed, thereby pulling the container onto the bed.
 19. The method inaccordance with claim 18, further comprising shifting at least onelocking pin that is movably mounted to the bed into a corner hole of thecontainer to secure the container to the bed.
 20. The method inaccordance with claim 18, further comprising driving the lift spikessimultaneously with the container toward the rear edge of the bed,thereby pushing the container off of the bed.